Reps caution PDP, others on Tambuwal’s defection

Following the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to the All Progressives Congress on Tuesday, the House said it has noted that many commentators are speaking in ignorance by asking the Speaker to vacate his position over the defection.

A statement issued by the House Deputy Chairman, Media and Public Affairs, Victor Afam Ogene, under the title “YouCan’t Regulate Our Procedure from Outside” reads:

“Barely 24 hours after Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, Speaker of the House of Representatives, announced a switch of party allegiance from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), several individuals, party chieftains and groups have gone on frenzy, dishing out varied interpretations to the decision.

“In the main, many of these commentators, rather than correctly stating what the true position of the law and the House rules are, take delight in advertising ignorance of both, with some even advocating a recourse to anarchy as a way of achieving what they imagine ought to be the ‘solution’ to the issue.

“Following several inquiries by especially journalists and some members of the public, it is easy to narrow the concerns to two key issues. One, whether Speaker Tambuwal ought to vacate his seat as Representative of Kebbe/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State, by virtue of section 68 (1) (g), of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended; and two, if he shouldn’t step down as Speaker, having defected from the majority party in the House to a minority platform.

“On the first issue, it is a common knowledge that following the defection of 37 members of the House in December 2013, from the PDP to APC, there had been multiple court cases on the matter, thus rendering it subjudice to discuss any likely outcome. Everyone is thus enjoined to await final judicial pronouncement on the issue of defection, which has afflicted virtually all political parties in the land.

“Concerning calls for Mr. Speaker to step down from the position which his colleagues freely elected him to on June 6, 2011, we wish to reaffirm – even with the pains of almost sounding monotonous – that the Speakership of the House of Representatives, or indeed, any other national elective position, belongs to the generality of Nigerians, and not the political platforms upon which such leaders emerge.

“While the case of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who as a sitting Vice President moved to another political party – and did not get judicial reprobation for the act – is still fresh in our memories, the clear provisions of Section 50(1) (b) of the Nigerian Constitution easily settles the worries regarding the continued Speakership of Rt. Hon. Tambuwal.”

Aunty Iyabo, I am very sure that you know that this “do or
die” approach introduced to our democracy is old-school. Let’s face the fact,
this present government is deaf to reality and I am very sure that you are
enlightened. Hence shouldn’t join by supporting this shameful act and voice in support?
Nigerian government should for God’s sake stop embarrassing this nation with
all these childish approaches in form of thuggery and gangerism. This Nation cannot be fooled too long. Democracy
should be practiced with sense and the rule of law must be allowed to prevail.

It amazed me with the recent shameful actions of present
Federal Government. God gave GEJ the power when he least expected without
fighting and we supported him. His current action is unbecoming of someone that
God would give another opportunity. Only God give power and wisdom to rule.

What uproar? The media is making it look like that… The speaker, to me in his behavior is a step better than a vagabond. He places his selfish interest before the nation and the party. The No 4 person to the President, fails to know the important of his position to the security of the country internally and externally and starts a disturbing process by defecting, is just not the right person to hold any political position. We must first condemn the Speaker for not have resigned before defection, an act of instigating fight with the Party in power…. A brazen affront to PDP and an act to say do what you can thinking the unholy 199 constitution will back his machinery motivated act. To ordinary Nigeria and the future generation, the speaker must not be a role model to be emulated as in other democratic institutions of the progressive world.